Child Health Day, 2002
BY THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA
A PROCLAMATION

On Child Health Day, we renew our commitment to the well-being and
safety of our children. Parents, families, teachers, and neighbors all
play important roles in preparing children to face life's physical,
spiritual, intellectual, and emotional demands. For the future of our
country, we must work together to provide our young people with the
knowledge and skills they need to be safe, self-confident, and
successful.

From maintaining a healthy environment and high safety standards to
providing immunizations and quality health care, children rely on our
vigilance and support. Each year, 30 million children require
emergency care due to acute illness and injury. We can all take
important steps to help prevent these accidents and to improve the
health and safety of young Americans.

Parents and other caregivers should be aware of the latest safety
precautions and pay careful attention to consumer safety warnings.
They should always secure infants, toddlers, and small children in
safety seats and booster seats. Children should be taught always to
wear their seatbelts when riding in a vehicle and to use protective
gear when riding a bicycle, roller blading, skate boarding, playing
sports, and participating in other similar activities. Parents should
set a good example by refraining from smoking and should teach their
children about the health risks of tobacco, drugs, and alcohol.

Child obesity has become a serious problem in this country. About 8
million young Americans -- almost 15 percent of all children -- are
overweight. Obesity can cause medical complica-tions that can lead to
hospitalization for type 2 diabetes, sleep apnea, and asthma. Ensuring
regular parti-cipation in physical activity can help children manage
weight, control blood pressure, and maintain healthy bones, muscles,
and joints.

My Administration is strongly committed to advancing programs that
help children discover and understand the benefits of healthy living.
The recently introduced HealthierUS Initiative will help Americans
improve their health and quality of life through modest improve-ments
in physical activity, nutrition, getting preventive screenings, and
making healthy choices. Families play a vital role and can help to
promote and encourage these beneficial habits.

By committing ourselves to health and safety, we better enable
young people to achieve their goals, live longer, fuller lives, and we
strengthen our Nation. The Congress, by a joint resolu-tion approved
May 18, 1928, as amended (36 U.S.C. 105), has
called for the designation of the first Monday in October as "Child
Health Day" and has requested the President to issue a proclamation in
observance of this day.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, GEORGE W. BUSH, President of the United States
of America, do hereby proclaim Monday, October 7, 2002, as Child Health
Day. On this day, and on every day throughout the year, I call upon
families, schools, child health professionals, communities, and
governments to help all of our children discover the rewards of good
health and wellness.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand this fourth day of
October, in the year of our Lord two thousand two, and of the
Independence of the United States of America the two hundred and
twenty-seventh.